Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-28

BelI1lontChToniCle
w. A HUNT,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Once. aInIn street, oD. school House.
Thursday, April %, 1887.
Mr.. r. X. BARRETT, late Auditor of
Belmont county, at the September ses>
sion of the commissioners, last year,
presented the following claim. which
was allowed and paid:
Belmont County, to R. r. Barrett,
Auditor, DR..
To services from Nov. 9, 'S5, to Sept. 6.
'S6. 10 months, as follows:
Salary under enumeration law S2560 90
{" school law. -. 108 90
Extra services performed in the
interest of the National road 100 90
Filing away tax statements. SO
Services performed under Dow
Liquor tax law for one year, as
follows: Making auditors and
treasurer's duplicates, publica-
tion of notice, writing and filing
afidavits to discontinue and ap-
plications to begin business,
making apportionment and dis
tribution of tax collected, &c. 500 90
S3275 so
We publish this bill for the purpose
of calling Mr.. BaIrett's attention to the
fact that, by bis own showing. he was
entitled to but S4I6 66 for services per-
formed under Dow liquor tax law" See
statement at top of his bill-"To services
from Nov. 9, s5, to Sept. 6, 'S6.' and in
item relating to Dow law tax it reads
"for one year, as follows" Mr.. Barrett
has claimed and been paid for that item
SS3 "a more than his own statement
Qeaving out his figures. 5000, shows be
was entitled to.
November II Mr.. Barrett made out
another bill, as follows:
AUDIToR's OFFICE, BELMONT COUNTY,
st. Clairsville, Ohio, Nov. II, 'S6.
Belmont County, to r. r. Barrett,
Auditor, DR..
To services from Sept I3, to Nov. 8. SO
Bal.salary under enumera:'n law S512 2SI
"a school law. p 90
Making commissioners report, ,'S6 so 00I
p & S r pike duplicate -. -. 19 90
Making record of same. 1000
NJ T & Mt P & Adena pike dup. 1872
Making record of same. . co
Indexing commissioners journal 6s 50
Indexing road record - 40
$685. S4
Mr. Barrett will observe that he has
been paid in full for performing the
general duties of his office. This in
clodes the making of the tax duplicates
the Treasurer's. and the COPY to be
kept in the Auditors Office. This work
is paid for in the enumeration item. Mr..
Barrett will, likewise, observe that be
did not make the copy TO be kept in his
Office. and that he has again charged and
been paid for work he did not perform,
in this instance about $3.50.
The SsS 34 unlawfulIy charged for
services under the Dow law, and the
$3.50 for work he did not perform upon
the duplicates, aggregates S4S3 "a un
lawfully claimed and taken last year
by that high-priced officer.
The second bill, dated November 12,
Mr.. Barrett proceeded to pay himself,
without waiting for the formality of
approval by the county commissioners
Tie warrant upon the treasury is dated
November %, and December 6 Mr.. Bar
rett was kind enough to show the com,
missioners his bill That was clever in
Mr.. Barrett.
The commissioners have right to
people have chosen to the responsible
Office of County Auditor presents
claim against the county for services
performed, he has performed the duties
1t is not practical, and it ought not to
be expected. that they shall look through
all bis work, and see that it is done. The
Auditor is the guardian of the public
treasury. TIE Law says mo money
shall be paid from the treasury except
in pursuance OF law" and that mo
money shall be paid from any county
treasury except upon the warrant of the
County Auditor" Mr.. Barrett took an
oath when be went into office that re-
quired him to carefully observe and
obey the Injunction mo money shall be
paid from the treasury except in pursu
ance of law" II he disregards that int
Junction of the law In so tar as his own
compensation is concerned. be holding
the key TO the treasury. practically, he
is guilty Of very grave misdemeancr.